Ratings and viewership for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials are on pace to hit the highest levels since the 1990s.
Coverage of the U.S. Olympic Trials on NBC averaged a 3.5 rating and 5.68 million viewers through Sunday, up 30% in ratings and 36% in viewership from 2008 (2.7, 4.17M).
This marks the highest average rating for the U.S. Olympic Trials since 1996 (3.8), and the largest average audience since 1992 (5.89M).
Primetime telecasts have averaged 6.78 million viewers and a 1.9 rating in the key adults 18-49 demographic, the best since 1996 (8.64M) and 2000 (3.5), respectively.
Gymnastics and swimming have been particularly strong. Primetime coverage of the gymnastics trials on Friday and Sunday averaged a 5.3 rating and 8.92 million viewers, up 56% in ratings and 64% in viewership from 2008 (3.4, 5.44M), and the best averages since 2000 (6.2, 9.8M).
Primetime coverage of the swimming trials* averaged a 4.1 and 6.63 million — up 71% and 74%, respectively, from coverage on NBC in 2008 (2.4, 3.8M), and the highest average for the event since at least 1988.
Keep in mind that NBC aired every single night of the swimming trials this year. By contrast, the network aired only two such telecasts in 2008. The remaining 2008 telecasts aired on USA Network, with a maximum of 1.954 million viewers tuning into the cable outlet’s coverage.
10 Most-Viewed 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Telecasts
Ranked by viewership
* Does not include Monday’s telecast
| Date | Sport | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) | A18-49 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., 7/1/12 | Gymnastics | NBC |
5.9
|
10,021
|
3.3
|
| Sun., 7/1/12 | Swimming | NBC |
4.8
|
7,886
|
2.2
|
| Fri., 6/29/12 | Gymnastics | NBC |
4.7
|
7,785
|
2.4
|
| Wed., 6/27/12 | Swimming | NBC |
4.4
|
7,091
|
1.9
|
| Tue., 6/26/12 | Swimming | NBC |
4.4
|
6,962
|
2.0
|
| Mon., 6/25/12 | Swimming | NBC |
4.4
|
6,928
|
2.0
|
| Sat., 6/30/12 | Track & Field | NBC |
4.0
|
6,541
|
1.8
|
| Thu., 6/28/12 | Swimming | NBC |
3.8
|
6,198
|
1.7
|
| Fri., 6/29/12 | Swimming | NBC |
3.7
|
6,009
|
1.5
|
| Sun., 7/1/12 | Track & Field | NBC |
n/a
|
5,690
|
1.4
|
(Averages from NBC Sports Group via Fang’s Bites, NBC via The Futon Critic, TV By the Numbers)
